Any of you have your kids running track?

[123Saab]

My daughter, who does well in soccer Started track in 7th grade this year. 1600m and 800m runner.

She can run the 800m at 2.56 and the Mile at 6.01.

She does well, places every time and wins too.

My question is, How should I train with her over the summer, She will do cross country in the fall and soccer.

Soccer is not an issue, I played it years back and I coached her team for 4 years, just curious if any "Track Type" persons here have any tips?

Thanks

 

[getnpsi]

Hydration and heat concerns. Kids rarely have problems in the competitions it's the practice and training outside of school that can hurt them. The energy drink kick some of us depend on for work on our butts or on our feet standing in one place just doesn't carry to athletics at all.

 

[Solo2driver]

Generally she'd use the summer to wind down her speedwork from the spring track season, and get back to building base mileage. Depending on how many miles per week she was running before, she would be starting at 75-80% of that after 2 weeks of lighter recovery, and doing more easy long runs. After slowly adding miles and concluding the week with one long run, she can sprinkle in some biking and pool workouts if she'd like. I would not do any speedwork, period, over the summertime. Cross-country will start slower anyway, but she'll be way ahead on the basework over the other girls, and can start doing tempo runs and then speedwork and hills earlier in the season (or whatever her coach has her do). If she gets bored, the bike or pool is great over the summer--- just no speedwork! With girls this young I know they try to crank them up on the speed because their Freshman/Sophomore years can be quite good as most girls are still small and undeveloped...the problem with that philosophy is that they make terrible collegiate athletes if they get burned out or injured too soon.

Be sure her coach knows what her plans are FIRST, so that he can be on the same page. If she doesn't have a coach, join a local running club that has youth experience. It's more fun to train with other people anyway.


Background--- one of my Bachelor's degrees is in Exercise Science, and I ran competitively in college cross-country and track. Now I just drive racecars, it's much less tiring

 

[wallyuwl]

I'm a Phd candidate in exercise science (specialize in biomechanics). I coach high school throwers in track. My advise: Just let her play with her friends this summer. She's in 7th grade, and is in a running sport in fall and spring. Let her be a kid in the summer. Higher impact, but less frequently done, activities/sports wouldn't be a bad idea. Runners who just run, especially when young, often have bone deposition (ie: density) issues.

 

[JHZR2]

I did competitive rowing. Did well at it. It is a sport, like running, where the fastest people hit their peak later (I think running is like that at least). People who started rowing too early and did it too long were more prone to developing stress cracks in their back/spine. Some of it may just be bad form, but I doubt it is that different in running.

There are so many good options to do, I'd definitely cross train. I'd get a pair of bikes and do some long distance riding together. I'd also consider getting a rowing machine (Concept II) and using that (watch the form and do it right, 99% of people don't). It is a great cross training exercise with no impact.

Given that she likes running, no impact training is the key to me for the alternate times.

 

[123Saab]

Thanks all

 

[pzev]

If heart conditions run in your family, it might not be a bad idea to have your daughter tested. I've heard of too many children dying during track and other athletic events due to underlying undiagnosed heart conditions...enlarged heart is probably the most common I hear.

 

[salesrep]

I am agreeing with Wallyuwl, I have coached youth for over 10 years and am degreed in this field. BE CAREFUL with over training before full maturation.

 

[mechtech2]

Originally Posted By: wallyuwl
I'm a Phd candidate in exercise science (specialize in biomechanics). I coach high school throwers in track. My advise: Just let her play with her friends this summer. She's in 7th grade, and is in a running sport in fall and spring. Let her be a kid in the summer. Higher impact, but less frequently done, activities/sports wouldn't be a bad idea. Runners who just run, especially when young, often have bone deposition (ie: density) issues.


It seems you have to have a full career by the 7th grade, nowadays! Anyone who starts much later is at a huge disadvantage.
Push Push Push Push!

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: wallyuwl
I'm a Phd candidate in exercise science (specialize in biomechanics). I coach high school throwers in track. My advise: Just let her play with her friends this summer. She's in 7th grade, and is in a running sport in fall and spring. Let her be a kid in the summer. Higher impact, but less frequently done, activities/sports wouldn't be a bad idea. Runners who just run, especially when young, often have bone deposition (ie: density) issues.


+1

My daughter did track last year (7th) she hurt herself twice. Not good. She didn't want to go out for it this year - her own decision. The coach was very easy going, she is just so darn competitive...again her own decision.

 

[123Saab]

Thanks again all, good advice here.

I think I will just let her be a kid this summer, she swims a lot so it should all be good.

As Pablo said, It is her decision that matters. (And she is very competitive)

 

[sciphi]

Let her be a kid. If she wants to run, let her run with friends.

I did track and XC back in high school, and still run for my own satisfaction. Jumping right into it, I sat my first winter out with stress fractures in my shins from over-training. Painful and not fun doing pool workouts all winter.

Shoes are critical. If she's training every day, then shoes have a life expectancy of a season or so. Any knee or shin pain that lingers for a week and it's time for new shoes. Take her to a sporting-goods store and let her try on lots of shoes to find ones that fit well. And, having a separate pair for school while saving the "track" shoes for training only will help her keep injury-free thanks to the lighter use the practice shoes are going through.